Six Wal-Mart Supercenters Open in Ohio May 17

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As one of the largest supplier states to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in the U.S., the state of Ohio will receive another economic boost when six Wal-Mart Supercenters celebrate their grand openings across the state on May 17. The stores are located near Cincinnati (Forest Park and Fairfield Township), Springfield, Bowling Green and Upper Sandusky. They bring 1,480 new jobs to the state, a boon for local suppliers and a combined total of $160,948 to local civic and charitable organizations in the communities where the stores are located. Three of the stores are new facilities, and three are expanded or relocated stores.

1,480 New Jobs

The three new Supercenters will employ approximately 975 associates, and the three expansion and relocation stores will add 505 associates. More than 6,500 people applied for jobs at the six stores.

"I am not surprised by the large number of applicants we continue to receive at Wal-Mart," said Larry Greer, store manager at the new Forest Park Supercenter in the Cincinnati area, which received 1,800 applications for 375 available positions at his store. "There are great career opportunities and good benefits with a growing company."

Wal-Mart is currently in the process of hiring for four additional stores it will open in the next few weeks in Bryan, Chardon (outside of Cleveland), Dayton and St. Clairesville, Ohio.

Local Suppliers Grow With Wal-Mart

Indirectly, Wal-Mart also supports more than 157,000 jobs through suppliers with whom it has spent more than $12.5 billion last year in Ohio for services and merchandise. Many Ohio businesses that sell their products and services to Wal-Mart will also benefit from the new and expanded stores. "Home City Ice Company has been doing business with Wal-Mart since the company opened its first store in Ohio more than 20 years ago," said Lou McGuire, vice president of sales for the Cincinnati-based ice company. "They are a very good customer of ours, very easy to do business with, and are people of their word."

"We have only started our relationship with Wal-Mart in the last year," said Franklin Kling, president and CEO of Saturday Knight Limited, a designer and manufacturer of bathroom products, towels, rugs and accessories. "But I can already tell you that Wal-Mart is a great customer, and we look forward to growing and expanding with them."

"We have been extremely pleased with our relationship with Wal-Mart," said Brian Reis, president of Ballreich Potato Chips, an 80-year-old family-owned business headquartered in Tiffin. "They treat us well as a supplier, and our business is growing rapidly." Ballreich products are carried in Wal-Mart stores throughout Ohio and in other states.

Wal-Mart Economic Impact in Ohio

EDITOR'S NOTE: See http://www.walmartfacts.com/ for more information about Wal-Mart in Ohio.

As of March 2006, Wal-Mart employed 47,872 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in the state of Ohio:

* Supercenters: 75 * Discount Stores: 49 * SAM'S CLUBS: 27 * Distribution Centers: 5

In 2005, Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Ohio more than $397.1 million in sales taxes and paid more than $52.6 million in state and local taxes.

$160,000 to Ohio Charities and Groups

This week, a combined total of $160,948 from the six Ohio stores will go to schools, local police and fire departments, local parks and recreation departments and organizations that serve people in need. Each Wal-Mart store provides grants upon their grand opening, and also provides grants and matching grants to organizations throughout the year through Wal-Mart's Good Works community involvement program.

Associate Benefits

Wal-Mart benefits - available to full- and part-time associates - include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Wal-Mart offers a choice of as many as 18 health plans that cost as little as $11 a month in some areas. Both full and part-time Wal-Mart associates are eligible for health care benefits. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, performance- based bonuses, discounted stock purchase program and life insurance.

About Wal-Mart Stores

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. Internationally, the company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company's securities are listed on the New York and NYSE Arca stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com/. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com/.

FACT SHEET Ohio Wal-Mart Supercenters Opening May 2006 Cincinnati Area - Forest Park (new store) - first in Hamilton County * 1143 Smiley Ave. * 375 new jobs; 1,800 applicants * $21,500 in grants * Store Manager Larry Greer, 513-825-4423 Cincinnati Area - Fairfield Township/Hamilton (expanded store) * 3201 Princeton Road * 190 new jobs (total employment is 390); 450 applicants * $26,098 in grants * Store Manager Ben Kincer, 513-869-8400 Springfield (new store) * 200 S. Tuttle Road * 350 new jobs; 1,400 applicants * $29,000 in grants * Store Manager Jerry Armstrong, 937-325-2111 Springfield (relocated store) * 2100 Bechtle Ave. * 175 new jobs (total employment is 420); 400 applicants * $32,000 in grants * Store Manager Ramy Awad, 937-399-0370 Bowling Green (expanded store) * 131 W. Gypsy Lane * 140 new jobs (total employment is 340); 1,500 applicants * $25,700 in grants * Store Manager Tom Kehres, 419-373-6360 Upper Sandusky (new store) * 1855 E. Wyandot Ave. * 250 jobs; 975 applicants * $26,650 in grants * Store Manager Bob Wample, 419-294-3404